Probably the sub-set of Exercise Science that fascinates me the most is the area of Exercise Psychology. Why people train or don’t train is a fascinating study, and a huge key to personal success in fitness. What motivates a person to exercise, or not exercise? What differentiates people who “exercise” vs people who “train”? What mindset differences exist between people training for muscle gain, vs people training for fat loss?

One of the biggest dichotomies I see in Exercise Psychology is the huge number of people who regularly see exercise as a self-imposed punishment in atonement for their nutritional and lifestyle “sins”. To them, exercise is something they must begrudgingly do because they have to lose weight that they have gained. Or they have to exercise because over the weekend they ate or drank too much. Even bodybuilders sometimes refer to their exercise sessions as a punishment they must endure… self-imposed torture where they brutalize themselves. I’ve been guilty of this myself at times, if only through how I described a workout… but it’s not really how I feel.

A much healthier psychological approach to exercise, and mindset to take, is to envision exercise and training as the GIFT it really is to your body. Focus on exercise as a means of preparing your body for life’s abuse. Focus on gaining strength, both physical and mental, through regular exercise. Think of exercise as an artistic expression, where your body is a unique piece of wood or marble, and your progress nutritionally and in the gym as carving that raw material into a sculpture uniquely yours.

It’s a fine but distinct shift in mentality toward exercise.

This week, focus on exercising hard so that next weekend you don’t have to worry about social calories.

This week, start thinking of exercise as building up a metabolic machine that crushes the food you eat!

This week, stop exercising for the sake of exercise, and start TRAING toward to specific goal.

This week, stop beating yourself up over excess calories you ate, and focus on the food you ate as great fuel for a BETTER workout!

This week… think of your gym trips as a gift you are giving yourself, an investment in a better, fitter, stronger, leaner, healthier future-you!